Welcome to the World Science Symposium.
Gotham University
is honored to host this distinguished gathering.
Here, the greatest minds in science
will discuss and exchange
exciting new ideas in technology.
You think these ideas are new?
Forget it, man.
It's the same old story.
We're a push-button society.
Technology makes our head soft, our bodies weak.
But I've got a new idea.
Blow it up!
Blow it all up!
Then how would we make cappuccino?
We're slaves to the machine, Batman.
Someone's got to stop the madness.
And you appointed yourself? Great.
It's the only sane solution.
Yeah, right.
I hate to burst your bubble, Stan,
but you're not playing with a full set of chips.
Oh, yeah?
Later, Batman.
Uh. Geekfest.
Do you really think Dr. Sellick will show up?
The world's leading scientists have all been invited.
No, this way.
What? You've been in Gotham before?
Yes. And maybe we'll run into an old friend of mine.
Who? Batman.
Yeah, right.
Whoa.
For a robot, you've got some connections.
Your hunch was right, sir. There they are.
Hold your fire until I give the signal.
Now!
What? Run!
Go.
Halt. Federal agents.
Lousy feds.
Hit him.
Let's bring him in.
Back off, man.
If you think I'm gonna let you stinking feds
trample his basic human rights...
Wait. It's not what you think. Listen.
Big government. Big lies.
Forget it, man.
Power to the people.
Oh, no.
Daddy's home.
How's my little Boom Boom?
Him? Just another victim of an uncaring society.
Huh?
It's a scam, man.
A conspiracy.
I knew they were out to get me.
But I'll outsmart them. I'll outsmart them all.
Nine-one-one. Emergency Services.
You have to help me right away.
There's trouble. I need Batman. Whoa. Slow down.
You want who? Batman?
Kid, this is an emergency number.
But this is an emergency.
What kind? Big. Really big.
I saw the Royal Flush Gang. Yeah.
And they were trashing city hall,
along with Inque and Blight, and a gazillion Jokers.
And then there... Listen, kid.
Filing a false report is against the law.
You don't wanna get into trouble.
I'm already in trouble.
I need Batman.
Come on. You've got him in a closet there, don't you?
Twip.
Hey-hey. Check out the new girl.
I'll bet she's got lots of spare creds for us. Right, guys?
Yeah.
Perfect. Get lost, clowns.
Not clowns.
Jokers.
Whatever.
Not so fast, blondie. You haven't heard the punch line.
Allow me.
Ow. Not funny.
Come here. Come here.
Noogie time.
Ow.
Beat it, chuckles.
Bye-bye. Okay. See you later.
You wanted to see me?
We have a mutual friend.
His name is Zeta.
Zeta? How did you get mixed up with him?
Long story.
The point is, he's in trouble.
We were running from the feds, and we got split up.
Zeta was picked up by some muscle-bound gorilla
with a thing for explosives.
Mad Stan.
Oh, dear.
Out of the way, man. I'm in a hurry.
Road hog.
What happened?
The feds, man. They almost grabbed you.
And you saved me.
Just fighting the power, man.
Where's Ro? Who?
My friend who was with me?
Oh. He's safe.
Ro's a girl.
Right. Right.
I mean, she's safe.
She's hiding out from the feds. Where?
Here's the address.
I gotta split, man.
Make sure no one follows you.
Thank you.
My pleasure.
Nice man.
But he should drive more carefully.
According to my computer, that boat is registered
under one of Stan's two hundred known aliases.
So let's nail the creep.
Which one of these things is the door?
I'll go. You're staying here. But...
Don't make me lock you in.
And just what am I supposed to do while you're gone?
Enjoy.
Thanks heaps.
Wayne. I just had a brush with Stan's security system.
He should be out here chucking grenades.
Stay sharp. He may have something worse up his sleeve.
No bombs.
You sure this is the right place?
I told you to wait in the car.
There was nothing good on the radio.
Okay. But be quiet.
Mad Stan is serious trouble.
Good morning, Mary Sunshine.
Stan?
What's in there?
A sedative. A strong one.
He's out for a day at least.
This looks amazingly bad.
Eww. A barking rat.
That's Boom Boom.
Stan's early warning system.
What you got there, killer?
I bet this is for me.
Yo, Batman.
I hate being right.
The killer robot? Uh-uh.
Too easy, man.
Saw through him right away.
I could have trashed wind-up boy, but then I figured
I'd use him to teach you and the stinking fedsa lesson.
I've sent your toy out with a special delivery.
You wanna find him?
You've got until midnight.
As for me?
I'm taking a little trip to REM-ville.
And I ain't waking up till it's over.
So why are you still wasting time watching this?
Ticky-tock, man.
Ticky-tock.
It's a big city.
So many people.
And Zeta could be any one of them.
I'm gonna need help. Expert help.
Wait. What if Zee contacts me?
Here.
Now you won't have to punch out Jokers to get my attention.
Sure. Spoil my fun.
Stay sharp.
What do you want?
Zeta. I need to find him fast.
The line forms behind me, wacko.
You wanna talk about wackos?
Let's start with Mad Stan.
He put our robot pal on the streets with a ticking bomb.
If we don't find him, a chunk of this city goes boom.
So the robot goes boom too.
That makes my life a whole lot easier.
And what about the people?
That's your department, hero.
Hey.
Did you get the tracer on that thing?
No problem.
With any luck, he'll lead us right to Zeta.
Batman? Any luck yet?
I alerted Agent Bennett, but...
Bennett? How could you?
I thought he'd help. But he wouldn't.
Well, duh. I could have told you that.
Terry, I reviewed Mad Stan's files.
There's a method to his madness.
His rants are always triggered by something in the news.
I'm rechecking the latest sound bites.
Maybe something will turn up.
Hurry. We're running out of time.
Hey, mister?
Why did the Jokers cross the road?
I don't know.
To beat up the geek on the other side.
You're not laughing.
He's not laughing.
That joke must have gone over his head.
I'll aim lower.
Huh? He can't do that. Jump him.
Ha-ha. Winning.
Huh?
I don't have time for this.
If you come near my windshield, you'd better have a squeegee.
It's no joke, Bats.
We were goofing on some weird dude.
He was so strong, he started tossing us like pies.
Which way did he go?
I got a lead. He's heading towards the civic center.
What do you think? City hall?
No. Try the Department of Health.
There's a small item about them raising the fee
for pet licenses.
Pet licenses?
You were right. He's here.
Zeta, stop.
Batman?
Sorry about this.
Duck!
So, Mad Stan told you Ro was here?
He saved me from Agent Bennett. Why would he lie?
Well, he is mad.
But don't worry. I'll take you to her.
Don't move. We have the building completely surrounded.
Bennett.
How did he find me?
Sorry. I must have led him right to you.
You did what you had to.
There's no way out. You go.
But... No. I have to face him alone.
Sir, look.
Let him go.
Even he can't help Zeta now. Move in.
Maintain perimeter. Search every room.
You there. Freeze.
Huh?
It's okay. He's solid. Keep looking.
I found this attached to your car.
So that's how Bennett tracked me.
Not anymore.
What will you do now?
I checked the registry at the Science Symposium.
The man we were looking for has already moved on.
Then I guess we should too.
Good luck.
Zee was right. You're a real friend.
Thanks.
I can't believe you
actually trusted Mad Stan.
I mean, wasn't the name kind of a giveaway?
But he seemed so...
cheerful.
You are so clueless.